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Thomas Bach seeking IOC leadership

Stephen Wilson

Thomas Bach is counting on his track record and long experience in the Olympic world to carry him to the top job in the International Olympic Committee.

The 59-year-old German lawyer on Thursday became the first declared candidate in the race for president of the IOC, heralding the start of a four-month campaign to succeed Jacques Rogge at the helm of the multi-billion-dollar global industry.

Bach, an IOC vice president, has been considered the front-runner among a possible field of a half dozen candidates. A former Olympic gold medallist in fencing, he has held several influential positions in the IOC since joining the committee in 1991.

"With my management and leadership experience on the national and international level of sport, but also in business and politics and society, I am well trained for this great task," Bach said in a conference call after his announcement in Frankfurt.

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Rogge, who succeeded Juan Antonio Samaranch in 2001, steps down in September after 12 years as leader.

Bach, winner of a team foil gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, said he notified Rogge and fellow IOC members of his intention to run on Wednesday. He said he will formally submit his candidacy to members in June under the motto "Unity in Diversity."

"I didn't want to keep other members in the dark any longer," Bach said at a news conference. "I think it is the right time."

The German has served on the policy-making IOC executive board as a regular member or vice president since 1996. As chairman of the IOC juridical commission, Bach leads most of the investigations into doping cases.

Bach has also chaired evaluation commissions for cities bidding for Summer and Winter Games and led European television rights negotiations. He heads the German Olympic Sports Confederation, DOSB.

"This is why I feel well prepared," he said.

Singapore's Ng Ser Miang, another IOC vice president, is expected to announce his candidacy soon. So, too, is Richard Carrion, a former executive board member from Puerto Rico.

The election will be held by secret ballot among the 100-plus IOC members.

An unofficial election campaign has been going on for months, with Bach and other prospective candidates travelling the world to attend various Olympic gatherings to talk to members.

Other likely contenders include Sergei Bubka of Ukraine, the former pole vault champion who still holds the world record in the event, and C.K. Wu of Taiwan, head of the international amateur boxing federation.